Floor-polishing machine



June 24, 1930. E. J; NEWCOMER 1,768,137

FLOQR POLISHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1926 INV /v ToA Patented June 24,1930 ERNEST J. NEWCOMEE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND FLOOR-POLISHING MACHINEApplication filed December 14, 1926. Serial No. 154,729.

This invention relates to an improvement in floor polishing machines.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character ofan improved construction for waxing, polishing or scrubbing a floorwithout danger of splashing water, dust, dirt or wax into the gears ofthe machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide for an even distributionof the stresses over the various parts of the machine, and to encloseand protect the reduction gearing so that it is housed in the mostconfined and eflicient manner.

\Vith these objects in view, the machine is constructed of a brush gearhousing having an integral dropped partition in the center whichsupports the main shaft, and this dropped partition co-operates with agear case cover seated upon the upper peripheral edges thereof to form acompartment for the reduction-gears of the machine. The driving-motor ismounted above the gear-case cover. An internal ring-gear is secured in afixed position-in the brush gear housing in position to mesh with thebrushgears mounted on brush-shafts, which are in turn supported by anenlarged supporting-plate carried on the main shaft, and which plateextends outwardly substantially to the outer edge of the brush-gearhousing to prevent any water, wax, or dust from being thrown into theupper portion of the housing, where it might interfere with theoperation of the brush and ring-gears.

The accompanying drawing is a vertlcal sectional view through a machineconstructed in accordance with this invention.

A brush gear casing 1 is adapted to en close and house the main portionsof the operating parts of the machine, and is provided with upstandinglugs 2 to which the handle-yoke 3 is pivotally mounted for moving themachine over the surface to be scrubbed, waxed or polished.

The brush-gear housing 1 is provided with an upstanding annular ridge 4tupon the top 5 thereof, upon which ridge a gear case cover 6 is seated.A motor housing 7 'is mounted upon the cover 6, and these parts aresecured to the ridge 4 by means of the motor-housing screws 8 whichextend through the flange on the housin 7 and the cover 6 and into theridge A. r partition 9 extends downwardly at an angle of substantially45 from the ridge 4; of the brushgear housing, and is integral with thisridge and the housing. The partition 9 terminates at its lower end in anenlarged bearing 10 formed integral therewith; and on one side of thisbearing 10 is a smaller bearing 11.

As shown in the drawings, the partition 9 is substantially cup-shaped,and forms a chamber 12 within the top of the brushgear housing forreceiving the reductiongears of the machine.

The numeral 13 indicates the armatureshaft of the motor,'which alsocarries the fan 14 thereof, and this armature-shaft is mounted inball-bearings 15 carried by the gear case cover 6. A pinion 16 is fixedon the armature-shaft 13, and meshes with a reductioirgear 17 fixed onthe reductionshaft 18 mounted at its upper end in a bearing 19, and atits lower end in the bearing 11. A' reduction-pinion 20 is also fixed onthe reduction-shaft 18 and meshes with a driving gear 21 fixed ona'main-shaft 22. This main shaft 22 is mounted in ball-bearings 23mounted in the main bearing 10 formed in the partition 9.

A supporting-plate 2A is carried on the lower end of the main shaft 22,and is of a diameter only slightly less than that of the brush gearhousing 1, so as to lie immediately inside the inner wall of thishousing, substantially to close the space thereabove and form apartition between the upper and lower portions of the housing to preventany water, wax or dust from being thrown into the upper portion thereof.This supporting-plate is provided with integral hubs 25 forming bearingsfor brush-shafts 26, which support brushes 27 on the lower ends thereof.The upper ends of these brush-shafts above the supporting-plate 24 carrybrush-gears 28, which mesh with a ring-gear 29 secured by screws 30 onan internal flange 31 formed in the brush gear housing 1.

The brush gear housing prefer- N ably extends below the upper ends ofthe brushes or other rubbing elements which might be secured on theshafts 26, in order to house and enclose these rubbing elements toprevent the scattering of any liquid or wax centrifugal force, and toprevent its being thrown out over the floor to any substantial degree.

The chamber 12 for the reduction-gears is preferably packed with greasein order to keep these gears thoroughly lubricated, and this initialpacking is usually sufficient for the entire life of the machine.

As the motor is operated, its rotary movement is transmitted to the mainshaft 22 through pinion 16, reduction-gear 17, reduction-pinion 20, anddrivegear 21, which rotates the supporting-plate 24:, causing the gears28 to turn within the ring-gear 29, thus giving rotary motion to therubbing elements 27 for scrubbing, waxing or polishing the floor. Thesupporting-plate 24 pre ventsany injury to the gearing or bearings bykeeping all dust, wax, or liquid out of the upper portion of the brushgear housing 1, thus keeping the machine in better operating condition.7

The peculiar construction of the partition 9, closed at its upperperipheral edge by the gear case cover 6, provides a compact enclosurefor the reduction gearing, keeping all foreign particles therefrom, andinsuring the perfectoperation of the machine, as well as providing acompact and light construction, thus making it easy to handle andoperate.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an outercasing, a motor supported thereby, rubbing members, shafts on which saidrubbing members are secured, a fixed-gear mounted at the outer portionof the outer casing, gears fixed on the shafts and meshing with saidfixed gear, a supporting plate carrying said shafts and ex tendingoutwardly beyond the shafts substantially to the edge of said outercasing forming a guard, and means for turning the supporting plate fromthe motor.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an outercasing having a peripheral ridge formed on the top portion thereof, saidtop portion having a partition extending downwardly from the ridge at anangle of approximately 45, forming a cupshaped chamber in the top of thecasing, said partition being integral with the casing, a main shaftmounted approximately centrally of the partition, rubbing elementsconnected with the main shaft, a cover-plate mounted on the ridge andapproximately closing the top of the chamber, a motor mounted upon thecasing above the chamber, and reduction-gearing mounted in the charms Intestimony whereof I affix my signature. so

ERNEST J. NEWVGOMER.

